Falling For My Alpha Stepsister (GL)
Chapter 2: The Girl Of My Nightmares

Chapter 2: The Girl Of My Nightmares

Finally, I finished reading the novel. It was a romance novel I picked up from the bookstore. Honestly, I’m not a fan of romance novels, but I had to read it.

I flipped the very last page shut, a heavy sigh escaping my lips as the thick paper settled into place. The sweet, flowery prose left a strange taste in my mouth, but I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to remember every single plot point.

Because it’s what my crush reads.

I tucked the paperback securely under my arm, my heart doing a little nervous flutter against my ribs just thinking about her.

This was all for her, every single boring page of it.

She happens to come to the bookstore every Saturday afternoon to borrow a book. I work at the bookstore, and I’ve developed quite a liking for her.

Every weekend like clockwork, the little bell above the entrance would chime, and she would glide right through the doorway, bringing a breath of fresh air into the dusty shop.

I would instantly freeze up, yes for real, my hands hovering over whatever stack of magazines I was supposed to be sorting.

Benita Goodman.

Yes, that’s her name. I’ve memorized it and stored it deep inside my little heart.

The syllables felt smooth and perfect on my tongue, a tiny secret I kept to myself during the long, quiet shifts.

Just saying her name in my head was enough to make my palms go slightly sweaty.

She also happens to be a Beta.

An ordinary, sweet Beta with none of that aggressive, overwhelming Alpha energy that constantly suffocated me back at home. She was calm, gentle, and absolutely safe.

I waited by the counter for her to return the book she borrowed two weeks ago. It usually takes her a week or two to finish reading a novel.

My eyes kept darting to the clock on the wall, the ticking sound matching the frantic rhythm of my pulse. I kept smoothing down the front of my shirt, making sure there weren’t any noticeable wrinkles.

I borrowed the same book so I could use it to bond with her.

Maybe she would even ask me out.

I had spent my entire evening yesterday underlining sentences and memorizing the characters’ names, practically studying the text like it was a final exam. If this didn’t give us something real to talk about, nothing would.

I waited and waited for her to arrive.

I kept myself busy, arranging and rearranging the shelves.

I gripped a stack of heavy hardbacks, slotting them into the alphabetical sections over and over again until my fingers were completely covered in thin gray dust. My manager had already cleared me to go, but I kept finding excuses to linger near the front door.

Then I finally saw her walking into the store.

The bell chimed loudly, and there she was, pushing through the glass door with a soft smile on her lips. My stomach did a crazy flip, and I nearly dropped the book wipe I was holding.

I quickly pushed my black frames up the bridge of my nose, taking a deep, centering breath to stop my hands from shaking as I smoothed down the fabric over my hips.

"Let me attend to this patron," I told my colleague, Katie.

I leaned over and gave her a sharp, pleading nudge with my elbow, my voice a tight whisper.

With a questioning look, she let me. Katie knew I had a huge crush on Benita.

Katie raised her eyebrows, a knowing, mischievous grin spreading across her face as she stepped back and gestured toward the register with an open palm.

"Welcome back, Benny." I smiled at her.

My voice came out a little higher than usual, my heart thumping wildly against my chest as she approached the counter.

"Hello. I need to return this book and borrow another one."

Her soft voice washed over me, immediately melting away all the nervous tension in my shoulders.

She handed me the book.

The smooth cover brushed against my fingers as I took it from her, a tiny jolt of electricity shooting up my arm from the brief contact.

"Whoa, I see you’ve read Thorn Hearts. I’m a huge fan of the female lead, Rebekah," I said, trying to start a conversation.

I held the book up between us, tapping the cover with a shaky index finger, my eyes locking onto hers as I forced out the line I had practiced all morning.

And I did.

Her eyes lit up instantly, a bright sparkle appearing in her gaze as she leaned against the counter, completely taking the bait.

While I was suggesting books for her, she kept talking about the leads. The conversation took so much time that we both lost track of it.

She gesticulated with her hands, laughing softly as she argued about the tragic ending, while I nodded eagerly along, completely captivated by the way her lips moved. The rest of the bookstore seemed to fade into a blurry background noise.

When I finished registering her new borrowed book, she thanked me the barcode scanner beeped with a definitive sound, and my chest tightened as she gathered her things, a sudden wave of disappointment sinking deep into my gut.

Just when I thought I’d have to wait another two weeks for a chance to get her to ask me out..

She stopped right before reaching the door, her boots pivoting on the wooden floor as she faced me again.

"Are you free tomorrow evening?"

The question I’d been waiting for felt like it had taken centuries to arrive.

Finally.

Time completely stood still, the air freezing in my throat as the words echoed in the space between us.

"Huh? Yes, I’m free tomorrow. It’s not like I have a very busy schedule planned. Even if I did, I’d probably cancel it."

I blurted the words out in a panicked rush, the sentences tumbling over each other before my brain could even try to filter them.

What is wrong with me?

April, keep it together. You’re supposed to look cool in front of her, not stupid.

I wanted to hit myself, my face burning with a sudden, intense heat as I tightly gripped the edge of the counter.

Just when I thought she found my response weird, Benny smiled.

A soft, genuine chuckle escaped her lips, her eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made my knees go completely weak.

"You’re funny. Alright then, I’ll pick you up at 7 tomorrow night."

She offered a small, parting wave, her boots sounding softly against the floor as she finally stepped out into the afternoon air.

I nodded, and she walked away.

I stared blankly at the empty doorway, the little bell still vibrating from her exit.

Yes. Yes. Yes!

I let out a silent, ecstatic scream, throwing my arms up into the air as a massive, uncontrollable grin took over my entire face.

I finally bagged the girl of my sleepless nights.

All those hours spent reading trashy romance novels and staring at the ceiling were completely worth it.

I’m going on a date tomorrow!

My heart was racing so fast it felt like it was going to burst right out of my ribs.

"What are you going to wear, April? Since it’s your first date, you have to look dashing," Katie said.

Her sudden voice popped my bubble, making me jump slightly as she slid back over to the register, a teasing look in her eyes.

I couldn’t believe she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation the whole time.

She was standing just a few feet away behind the romance aisle, a stack of returned books clutched to her chest.

I didn’t blame her.

She had a massive smile on her face, completely celebrating the victory with me.

She was the one who encouraged me to read the books Benny reads. It was a good way for us to connect because people with similar interests tend to fall for each other quickly and never drift apart.

Her advice had actually worked perfectly, turning a hopeless crush into a real, actual date.

And yes, she was right.

Everything was lining up exactly the way it was supposed to.

I just got the girl of my dreams.

I gripped Katie’s hands, bouncing slightly on my shoes as the excitement bubbled up all over again.

We’re going to be together, and we’ll never fall apart.

The future felt bright and certain, completely erasing all the lingering dark thoughts about my miserable home life.

The next day, I took Katie’s advice and bought a new dress online. It was a tight, short red bodycon dress. It exposed a little skin, but it was still decent enough.

I pulled the fabric down over my thighs, checking my reflection from every possible angle in the full-length mirror. The vibrant red color was bold, hugging my curves in a way I wasn’t entirely used to.

I needed to look sexy.

I smoothed the tight material over my waist, taking a shallow breath to keep my stomach flat, wanting to make an absolute impression.

I did my makeup, carefully applied a thin layer of lip gloss, my fingers trembling slightly as I lined my eyes. The tall black heels added a few inches to my height, making me feel a bit more confident.

Honestly, this was the first time I’d spent several hours getting ready.

The bathroom counter was a complete disaster area, covered in scattered brushes, hairpins, and open makeup palettes.

Lastly, I curled my hair.

I looked at myself in the mirror and decided I was ready.

I took a deep breath, nodding at the stranger staring back at me, feeling a genuine spark of pride.

Then I ruined the beautiful look by putting on my glasses.

The thick, plastic frames slid onto my nose, instantly breaking the sleek, sophisticated vibe I had worked so hard to create.

I needed them because I couldn’t see clearly without them.

The entire world blurred into a fuzzy, dangerous smudge the second I took them off.

I’d just remove them when I got to the Library, since Benny will be picking me up from there.

I would just stumble my way through the sidewalk, blind but pretty, until I reached the main meeting spot.

The moment I stepped downstairs, I was met by the girl of my nightmares.

"And where do you think you’re going?"